Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr.
Born on February 20, 1942, and raised in South Louisville, McConnell's leadership ability was recognized early on as student body president in high school; College of Arts and Sciences student body president at the University of Louisville (where he received a B.A. with honors); and at the University of Kentucky's College of Law where he was elected president of the Student Bar Association. McConnell's political ascension continued as an intern with Senator John Sherman Cooper, chief legislative assistant to Senator Marlow Cook, and deputy assistant attorney general under President Gerald R. Ford. Before being elected to the United States Senate, McConnell served as County Judge-Executive in Jefferson County, Kentucky from 1978 to 1984.

His landslide victory on November 5, 1996, made Mitch McConnell the only Republican in Kentucky history to be elected to three full terms in the United States Senate. In fact, until Jim Bunning's election to the Senate in 1998, McConnell, Kentucky's senior senator, had been the only Kentucky Republican to win a statewide race since 1967.

Senator McConnell is married to Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. Previously, Secretary Chao served as president of the United Way of America and director of the Peace Corps. He is the father of three daughters: Elly, Claire, and Porter.